Financial Times, November 2, 2017 – Gavin Williamson has been appointed UK defence secretary, replacing Michael Fallon who resigned on Wednesday.
Mr Williamson, 41, had been the Conservatives’ chief whip since last year, forming a key part of Prime Minister Theresa May’s inner circle and helping to broker the confidence-and-supply agreement with the Democratic Unionist party that kept her in power.
His promotion on Thursday attracted criticism from some Conservative MPs, who said that Mrs May was weak to appoint the same person who had advised her on Sir Michael’s resignation.
Downing Street is seeking to avoid a broad reshuffle that could destabilize the government. However, Mrs May has faced calls to bring younger MPs into her cabinet in an effort to refresh the Conservatives’ image following the loss of their parliamentary majority in June.
Mr Williamson is 24 years younger than Sir Michael and the youngest British defense secretary since the post was created during the second world war. He was elected as an MP in 2010 and does not have military or ministerial experience.
Downing Street said Mr Williamson “wasn’t involved” in the reshuffle, and said he had been “an excellent and hardworking chief whip”.